Bill Brady, the Republican candidate for governor, is pro-life but told a group of Springfield senior citizens on Tuesday that there is not much he can do about abortion if he is elected.

“Yes, I am pro-life,” the state senator from Bloomington told a luncheon of about 40 people at Temple Israel on West Governor Street. “But really, if you look at the makeup of the letter of the law, there’s very little that the governor can do.”

Brady was responding to a senior who asked him whether his pro-life views would affect how the state funds social service agencies that don’t share Brady’s views.

“Certainly, there are many organizations that may not share my pro-life beliefs and do a lot of good works. We can continue to support their good works,” Brady said.

He did pledge to implement a state law requiring parental notification before a minor can get an abortion.

“I think a parent should be notified anytime their minor child receives a medical procedure. We can implement that. But other than that, there’s not much a governor can do,” Brady said.

William Beckman, executive director of the Illinois Right to Life Committee, said Brady is underestimating the power of the governor’s bully pulpit.

“I think he’s probably, to some degree, minimizing the impact the governor can have,” Beckman said. “Unfortunately, in the state of Illinois, it seems the so-called political advisers seem to be of the mindset that you have to put these kinds of issues under the rug.”

Brady also pledged to live in Springfield if elected.

“It’s a question of graciousness and a question of work ethic,” he said. “If you’re going to set the example, the work ethic the people of Illinois deserve … then you have to be where the place of government is, where the people who work for government are, and that is the capital.”

Lisa Stone, 66, of Springfield said she liked Brady’s answer to her question about living in Springfield.

“It means jobs to Springfield. If you’re here, people will come here to work with you,” Stone said.

But she was skeptical about Brady’s budget stance.

“I don’t think we pay enough in taxes. I wouldn’t mind a tax going in that was sunsetted,” she said. “Just cutting everything will fall on poor, elderly people or people in mental health institutions.”